Before us stands the Lion Rock a natural peak that resembles a lion. What does this rock formation tell us about Chinese culture?
Lion Rock is a landmark. It is known for its appearance like a lion perching on a hill ridge. The lion is a special animal to Chinese people. Stone lions are often seen in front of traditional buildings. These lions include a male and a female. The male lion is on the left. His right paw rests on a ball. The female is on the right. Her left paw fondles a cub.
The lion represents power and prestige. The ball symbolizes the unity of the empire. The cub represents thriving offspring. Stone lions once indicated the ranks of officials. The number of lumps represented the curly hair on the lion’s head. Houses of first-grade officials had lions with 13 lumps. The number decreased as the rank went down. Officials below the seventh grade could not have stone lions.
China did not originally have lions. Emperor Zhang of the Eastern Han Dynasty received a lion in AD 87. It was a gift from the King of Parthia. Another lion came from Yuezhi a Central Asian country. The earliest stone lions appeared with Buddhism. This was during the Eastern Han Dynasty 25 to 220 AD. Sakyamuni the founder of Buddhism roared like a lion after birth. In the Buddhist faith the lion is a divine animal. It symbolizes nobleness and dignity. It protects the Truth and keeps off evils.
Sculpted-stone lions also decorated bridges. The Lugouqiao or Marco Polo Bridge is the best example. It was built from 1189 to 1192. The stone lions on the posts of the bridge are famous. There may be 485 498 or 501 lions in all. A proverb says the lions on the Lugouqiao are uncountable.
Lion Rock Country Park was established on June 24 1977. It covers about 5.57 square kilometers of land. This includes Lion Rock.
Another feature is Mong Fu Shek or Amah Rock. Legend tells of a faithful wife. She climbed the hills daily with her son. She watched for her husband’s return. He had drowned at sea. The Goddess of the Sea turned her into a rock. This united her spirit with her husband’s.
Beacon Hill is also part of the park. Warning fire signals were lit here during the Qing dynasty. Soldiers guarded these lookouts. They alerted surrounding areas to danger. Today a radar station and a police transmitter are on the hill.
From Golden Hill’s slopes enjoy panoramic views. See Smuggler’s Ridge Tai Mo Shan Needle Hill and Sha Tin New Town. View Kowloon the harbor’s anchorage and Stonecutters Island. The container port and Tsing Yi Island are also visible.
Lion Rock is popular for picnics hikes and tourism. It includes scenic spots like Beacon Hill and Mong Fu Shek. Common vegetation includes Slash Pine and the Strawberry Tree. You might also see Fishpole Bamboo and Lunar New Year Bellflower. The area is noted for black-eared kites and long-tailed macaques. Macaques are descendants of monkeys released in 1920.
The first modern rock climbs were done here in the 1950s. They were completed by RAF personnel from Kai Tak Airport. Jogging trails and barbecue sites are available in the parks.
There is no road access to Lion Rock Country Park. Walkers can enter via footpaths from Sha Tin or Kowloon. A waymarked family walk is provided. Jogging trails surround the Reception and Shek Lei Pui reservoirs. A fitness trail is located on the catchwater track. A nature trail allows study of the area’s natural history.
Lion Rock stands as a symbol. It represents nature culture and history. It also embodies the spirit and stories of Beijing.